The God of Wealth starts with doing whatever you want

The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Shilla Hotel's executive suite, casting interplay of light and shadow on the Persian carpet, creating geometric patterns.

Xu Yun stood by the window, holding a cup of hand-drip coffee in her hand, her gaze passing over the lush canopy of Namsan Mountain and landing on the towering buildings of Seoul in the distance.

Lin Wanzhou quietly entered the room and placed a document on the coffee table.

"Park Iktae left at four in the morning."

Lin Wanzhou's voice was calm and even: "His legs were still shaking when he left. Did he need me to follow him?"

"no need."

Xu Yun turned around, the aroma of coffee filling the air, and laughed, "Give him some space. A cornered dog will jump over the wall, and a cornered rabbit will bite, but a third-generation chaebol..."

They are used to a life of luxury, and are most afraid of losing everything they have.

After speaking, Xu Yun walked to the coffee table and picked up the documents.

This is a preliminary analysis report sent by a foreign speculative investment team, regarding the equity structure, major shareholders, and unusual transactions of New World Group in the past three months.

The report highlighted a line in red: "In the last half hour before yesterday's market close, three block trades occurred, totaling the purchase of 0.7% of New World Group's shares. The transacting parties were offshore companies, and the ultimate beneficiary is hidden."

"Like a mantis stalking a cicada," Xu Yun said meaningfully.

For someone who possesses a system, there are no secrets in the world that can be kept from him.

10:00 AM, New World Group headquarters, Vice President's office.

Park Ik-tae stood by the window, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the window frame.

Outside the window lies Yeouido's bustling financial district, with the Han River winding through like a silver ribbon.

But he had no time to appreciate it.

The office door was pushed open, and a woman dressed in a Chanel suit, exuding a capable and professional aura, walked in.

She looked to be in her early forties, with exquisite makeup and sharp eyes.

Lee Young-ae, Park Ik-tae's sister-in-law, is the de facto head of the retail division of Shinsegae Group.

"sit."

Lee Young-ae walked straight behind the desk, gestured for Park Ik-tae to sit down in the chair opposite her, and said, "You called me in the middle of the night yesterday, saying there was a cooperation with China to discuss."

"Now, tell me, what exactly is it?"

Park Ik-tae swallowed hard.

He barely slept a wink last night, struggling between telling the truth and keeping it a secret.

Ultimately, he chose a compromise.

"Sister-in-law, I met a friend in China named Xu Yun."

Park Ik tried hard to keep his voice steady: "His family... has a very deep background; they are both rich and powerful."

Lee Young-ae raised an eyebrow; this information had clearly piqued her interest.

“He has a food product that he wants to enter the South Korean market through our channels.”

Park Ik-tae continued, "It's a trial run. I think this is an opportunity, after all, China's consumer market is huge now. If we can establish connections through this, there may be deeper cooperation in the future."

What food?

"A type of small bread, baked goods."

Park Ik-tae pulled up the product photos that Xu Yun had sent him before on his phone. The exquisitely packaged milk-flavored bread looked really tempting.

Lee Young-ae took the phone, looked at it carefully, and zoomed in on the image to check the ingredient list and nutritional information.

"The packaging design is good and suits the tastes of young people."

However, the South Korean baking market is highly competitive, with local brands like Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours already dominating the market.

"So he wanted to test the waters with high-end channels first."

Park Ik-tae quickly added, "For example, our Shinsegae Food Hall."

Lee Young-ae put down her phone, leaned back in her chair, and placed her hands on her knees.

This is a habitual gesture of my sister-in-law when she starts to think seriously.

"Tsubasa."

Lee Young-ae slowly began, “You know that the group has a complete evaluation process for introducing new brands, especially foreign food brands.”

Food safety standards, localized taste testing, market acceptance research… all of these take time.

"Sister-in-law, the process can be expedited."

Park Ik-tae leaned forward: "Xu Yun is willing to cover all testing costs, and..."

He paused for a moment: "If the sales target at the designated stores is not met within three months, he will voluntarily pay three times the channel fee as compensation."

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Lee Young-ae picked up her phone again and looked at the product photos once more.

"What are the terms? What does he want with such generous terms?"

"The first batch only requires that the products be available at ten Homeplus stores and three Shinsegae Food Halls in Seoul."

Park Ik-tae said, "Furthermore, he suggested that we could do co-branded marketing—make this bread a breakfast supplier for high-end hotels such as the Shilla Hotel, and create the concept of 'Korea-China Selected Breakfast'."

"Shilla Hotel?"

Lee Young-ae astutely caught the key phrase: "The one under Samsung?"

"Yes, Xu Yun is currently staying at the Shilla Hotel."

Park Ik-tae said, "He said he has already made initial contact with the hotel."

Lee Young-ae remained silent.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the desk, another habit she had when weighing the pros and cons.

Park Ik-tae held his breath, waiting for her decision.

"Ten Homeplus stores, three food stores."

Lee Young-ae finally spoke: "Okay, but the channel fee will be charged at the highest level—the new brand entry fee, listing fee, and promotion fee will all be charged, and the first installment will require a prepayment of 500 million won."

As you said, I will have the marketing department calculate and provide the sales target for the performance-based agreement.

in addition……"

She looked directly into Park Ik-tae's eyes: "I need to meet this Mr. Seo. Please make the arrangements for tomorrow afternoon at the Luo Yan Restaurant in the Shilla Hotel."

Park Ik-tae's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface: "Okay, sister-in-law, I'll arrange it."

At the same time, at the Shilla Hotel, in the Executive Lounge.

Xu Yun sat by the window, opposite the hotel butler, Cui Xiuyan.

She had changed out of her business suit and was wearing a well-fitting dress, looking more like a sophisticated urban woman on a date than a hotel employee.

"Mr. Xu, as per your request, I have already had a preliminary discussion with Mr. Jin, the head of the hotel's purchasing department."

Choi Soo-yeon spoke in fluent Chinese, her tone respectful but with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness: "He is very interested in introducing Chinese-style breakfast snacks, especially the 'trendy dessert' concept you proposed."

"Does Minister Jin have any concerns?" Xu Yun asked, taking a sip of tea.

"It mainly involves food safety certification and import procedures."

Choi Soo-yeon said, "However, I have already told him that your products will first enter South Korea through Shinsegae Supermarket's channels."

This means that it has passed the inspection of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

This reason is very convincing.

Xu Yun nodded, took an envelope from his handbag, and gently pushed it in front of Cui Xiuyan.

"This is a small token of my appreciation for Ms. Cui's thoughtful service these past few days."

Choi Soo-yeon glanced at the thickness of the envelope, her expression changing slightly: "Mr. Seo, this is too valuable. I was just doing my job..."

"Intelligence beyond one's assigned duties is also worth extra compensation."

Xu Yun smiled and said, "For example, you told me yesterday that President Lee Jae-ki and senior executives of Samsung Securities meet at the hotel's cigar bar every Wednesday night."

This information is very helpful to me.

Choi Soo-yeon's fingers tightened slightly under the table.

She did "inadvertently" reveal this information during a casual chat last night, but she didn't expect Xu Yun to point it out so directly.

"Mr. Xu, I..."

"Take it."

Xu Yun interrupted her, her tone gentle but firm: "I hope we can become long-term friends. I will need Ms. Cui's help during my time in Korea."

Choi Soo-yeon hesitated for a few seconds before finally putting the envelope into her handbag.

She moved quickly, but Xu Yun still noticed the slight trembling in her fingers.

"in addition……"

Xu Yun continued, "I have an appointment at Luo Yan Restaurant tomorrow afternoon with Ms. Lee Young-ae from the New World Group."

I hope the restaurant can give us the most private spot, and…

He lowered his voice and said something.

Choi Soo-yeon's eyes widened slightly after hearing this, but she quickly regained her professional expression: "I understand, Mr. Seo. Everything will be arranged according to your requirements."

At 6 p.m., my own investment team sent me an encrypted email.

The email was very brief.

"Today, the share price of New World Group fluctuated by 2.3%, and we absorbed 0.5%, while another fund absorbed 0.9%."

Upon investigation, the latter's funds ultimately pointed to an investment fund under Samsung Securities.

Special note: The fund manager, Lee Jae-hyun, is the cousin of CEO Lee Jae-ki.

After reading the email, Xu Yun smiled.

The mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.

But what if the cicada itself is also a disguised predator?

He dialed an encrypted number, and a calm male voice came from the other end: "Mr. Xu."

"Slow down the pace of acquisitions and make the moves more discreet."

Xu Yun said, "We've allocated a portion of our funds to start shorting Samsung Electronics on a small scale."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone: "The risk is very high. Samsung Electronics is the anchor of the South Korean stock market." "Therefore, it should be done on a small scale and spread across different offshore accounts."

Xu Yun walked to the window. Night fell, and the lights of Seoul gradually came on.

"What I want is not profit, but to create noise."

I want to distract the Samsung Securities people from checking their own backyard fire, so they won't have as much energy to worry about the neighbor's petty theft.

"Understood, Mr. Xu."

The foreigner on the phone asked, "Do you have any other instructions?"

“Continue to monitor changes in shareholding within the New World Group, especially…”

Xu Yun paused for a moment: "Keep an eye on whether any minority shareholders are selling their shares privately. If so, notify me immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Yun stood by the window for a long time.

The city's neon lights reflected in his eyes, shimmering with a cold light.

My phone vibrated; it was a video call request from Lin Suiling.

Xu Yun's cold expression melted instantly. He adjusted his expression and answered the video call.

Lin Suiling's face appeared on the screen. She seemed to have just taken a shower, her hair was still wet, and she was wrapped in a white bath towel. The background was the bedroom of an apartment in HZ City.

"What are you doing?" Lin Suiling asked in a soft voice.

"To see the night view."

Xu Yun flipped the camera over and pointed it at Seoul outside the window: "Look, this is Namsan Tower, it's lit up at night."

"it's beautiful."

Lin Suiling paused for a moment: "Was your matter successful?"

Two days ago, Yan Can let slip that Xu Yun had come to Korea during a private chat, and Lin Suiling found out.

"It went pretty smoothly."

Xu Yun turned the camera back and said with a smile, "Tomorrow I'll be meeting with a senior executive from the New World Group to discuss your mini bread entering Korean supermarkets."

"That Yan Can is really something."

Lin Suiling laughed and complained, "I originally wanted to handle it myself, I didn't want to bother you."

"Of course I will fully support my wife's entrepreneurial project."

Xu Yun's voice softened: "Once the channels here are established, your 'Sui Ling Bakery' will be a multinational brand."

Lin Suiling looked at Xu Yun on the screen and suddenly said softly, "Xu Yun, don't go too far. I can roughly guess what you're planning to do, but... that's someone else's territory after all."

Xu Yun laughed and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm just here to help you expand your business, and by the way... experience the life of a tycoon."

"Experience is experience, but don't actually become a tycoon."

Lin Suiling said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I don't want to see you on the news one day with the headline 'Chinese tycoon arrested in South Korea for suspected illegal activities.'"

"Will not."

Xu Yun assured him, "I'll be back soon, and I'll bring you a gift—Korean cosmetics or a bag, what do you want?"

"All I want is for you to come back safe and sound." Lin Suiling said this with a serious look in her eyes.

The two chatted for another ten minutes or so until someone knocked on Lin Suiling's door—her mother was calling her for a late-night snack.

After hanging up the video call, the gentleness on Xu Yun's face gradually faded.

He walked to his desk, opened his laptop, and pulled up a complex equity structure diagram.

The cursor moves over the names of several major shareholders of New World Group.

Finally, it stopped at one name: Lee Young-ae.

"Vice President of Retail Division, effectively controlling 40% of Shinsegae Group's supermarket and department store business. Her husband, Park Ji-ho, is the eldest son of the group's chairman, Park Jung-woong, but he was paralyzed in a car accident three years ago and has since faded out of management..."

Xu Yun read aloud the contents of the document: "He has a son, only 15 years old, studying in the United States. He himself graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Yonsei University and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School..."

According to available information, Lee Young-ae is known within the New World Group for her strong leadership and keen insight.

She spearheaded the creation and expansion of the group's high-end supermarket brand, "New World Food Hall," making it a benchmark for high-end retail in South Korea.

Would a woman like that easily believe Park Ik-tae's flawed explanation?
Xu Yun closed the file, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

He reviewed the entire plan in his mind.

Using small bread rolls as an entry point, Park Ik-tae opened up Shinsegae Group's retail channels.

At the same time, they slowly accumulate shares in the stock market through speculative capital, seeking opportunities.

Leveraging the Shilla Hotel's network of connections, they infiltrated South Korea's upper echelons of social circles...

Every step seems reasonable, but every step carries hidden risks.

My phone vibrated again; this time it was a text message from the head of the speculative investment team.

"Breaking news: Samsung Securities held an emergency meeting to discuss recent abnormal stock market fluctuations and foreign investment trends. President Lee Jae-ki also attended the meeting."

Xu Yun replied: "Continue to monitor them, and also check if there are any private dealings between Lee Young-ae and Lee Jae-gi."

"receive."

The reply continued, "We have another piece of information: we've detected that a minor shareholder of New World Group is contacting intermediaries, intending to sell 1.2% of their shares at a price 15% higher than the market price. Should we contact them?"

Xu Yun's eyes lit up: "Make contact, send someone to negotiate, but remember, be hesitant, keep pushing the price down, and act like you're just speculators."

"clear."

Putting down his phone, Xu Yun walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

The amber liquid sloshed in the glass, reflecting his deep gaze.

The plan is progressing as expected, but variables are beginning to emerge.

Samsung's vigilance, Lee Young-ae's caution, Park Ik-tae's unpredictability...

These are all variables that need to be processed.

But what bothered him most was Lin Suiling's last words.

"Don't go too far."

Xu Yun took a sip of wine, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat.

He knew he was playing with fire, and he knew the danger of this game.

But it's precisely because it's dangerous that it's worth playing.

Xu Yun felt that his mindset had changed somewhat compared to before.

Ordinary things are no longer enough to satisfy his emotional needs.

Seoul outside the window is brightly lit.

Behind the city's prosperity lies a vast network woven by conglomerates.

Xu Yun raised his glass to the night view and said softly, "Damn, this feeling of doing whatever you want only comes from abroad."

And on the other side of the city.

At the headquarters of New World Group, Lee Young-ae was in her office, looking at an investigation report on her computer screen.

The report is about a Chinese man named Xu Yun.

The information is very limited, consisting of only some vague business records:

The other party has invested in several technology companies in China and participated in some real estate projects, but there is no clear industrial affiliation.

Most notably, the report mentions that Xu Yun has dealings with several large private equity firms in China, one of which recently made a fortune in the international futures market.

Lee Young-ae closed the report, picked up her phone, and dialed a number.

"Help me find out about someone, Xu Yun from China. I need more detailed information, especially his overseas financial transactions."

Even after hanging up the phone, her brows remained slightly furrowed.

Park Ik-tae was clearly not in a good mood today. Although he tried his best to hide it, she could see the fear deep in his eyes.

Who exactly is this Xu Yun?

Is he really just a rich second-generation Chinese man who wants to do business in South Korea?
Or does he have another purpose?
Lee Young-ae recalled what her husband, Park Ji-ho, had said before his accident: "In this industry, everyone who suddenly approaches you has an ulterior motive."

Some are after money, some after power, and some... they want to devour you.

She turned back to her desk, opened a drawer, and took out an old photograph.

The photo shows a young her with her husband and her then-father-in-law, Park Jung-woong, standing in front of the first supermarket of the Shinsegae Group, all smiling brightly.

Back then, everything was simple.

Now, she must face this complex world alone, protecting her family and her empire.

Lee Young-ae put the photo back in the drawer and locked it.

Then she opened her schedule and marked tomorrow's appointment: "3 p.m., Shilla Hotel, meeting with Chinese businessman Xu Yun."

But a question mark was added next to it.

The answer to this question will be sought in tomorrow's meeting.

Eleven o'clock at night.

Shilla Hotel, an executive suite.

Xu Yun had just finished showering and was drying his hair when his phone lit up.

Another encrypted message from a speculative investment team:
"It has been confirmed that Samsung Securities is raising approximately $300 million, the purpose of which is unknown."

Additionally, Lee Young-ae's personal assistant called an international investigation firm twice within an hour to inquire about your information.

Xu Yun looked at the screen and smiled.

Undercurrents are already stirring.

And his sugar-coated bullets will be officially launched tomorrow.

Xu Yun replied with a smile: "Proceed as planned. The show will begin at 3 PM tomorrow."

Outside the window, the Seoul night sky was starless, with only the city's light pollution reflecting off the low-hanging clouds.

A storm is brewing, and the wind fills the tower.

This luxury hotel at the foot of Nanshan Mountain is about to become the starting point of this commercial storm.
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P.S.: Happy New Year everyone! (づ￣ 3￣)づ! (End of Chapter)